U.S. patent number 7,331,786 [Application Number 10/948,187] was granted by the patent office on 2008-02-19 for manufacturing a dental implant drill guide and a dental implant superstructure.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Technique d'Usinage Sinlab Inc.. Invention is credited to Michel Poirier.
United States Patent |
7,331,786 |
Poirier |
February 19, 2008 |
Manufacturing a dental implant drill guide and a dental implant
superstructure
Abstract
Dental implant drill holes and the shape of a dental implant
superstructure are chosen by creating a computer model giving
jawbone structural details, gum surface shape information and
proposed teeth or dental prosthesis shape information. The computer
model shows the bone structure, gum surface and teeth images
properly referenced to one another so that implant drill hole
positions can be selected taking into consideration proper
positioning within the bone as well as proper positioning with
respect to the dental prosthesis. Similarly, manufacture of the
dental implant superstructure used for fixed dental prosthesis or
overdentures can be designed based on knowledge of the actual
implant positions referenced to an image of the gum surface and
proposed dental prosthesis.
Inventors: |
Poirier; Michel
(Ste-Agathe-des-Monts, CA) |
Assignee: |
Technique d'Usinage Sinlab Inc.
(Lachenaie, Quebec, CA)
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Family
ID: |
46205360 |
Appl.
No.: |
10/948,187 |
Filed: |
September 24, 2004 |
Prior Publication Data
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Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
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US 20050037320 A1 |
Feb 17, 2005 |
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Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
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10086893 |
Mar 4, 2002 |
6814575 |
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09595921 |
May 7, 2002 |
6382975 |
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PCT/CA97/00984 |
Dec 18, 1997 |
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08806938 |
Mar 10, 1998 |
5725376 |
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60012325 |
Feb 27, 1996 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
433/75 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61C
1/084 (20130101); A61C 9/0053 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A61C
3/02 (20060101) |
Field of
Search: |
;433/72,75,76,172,173 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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680 764 |
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Sep 1939 |
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DE |
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836 993 |
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Apr 1952 |
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DE |
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43 28 490 |
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Mar 1995 |
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DE |
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195 10 294 |
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Oct 1996 |
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DE |
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196 29 708 |
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Feb 1998 |
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DE |
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0 215 765 |
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Mar 1987 |
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EP |
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WO 94/26200 |
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Nov 1994 |
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WO |
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Primary Examiner: Lewis; Ralph A.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Ogilvy Renault LLP
Parent Case Text
RELATED APPLICATIONS
This is a continuation of U.S. Continuation-In-Part patent
application Ser. No. 10/086,893, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,814,575, filed
on Mar. 4, 2002, which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser.
No. 09/595,921, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,382,975 filed on Jun. 16, 2000
and issued on May 7, 2002, which is a continuation of PCT
Application No. PCT/CA97/00984 filed Dec. 18, 1997 designating the
United States of America, and of U.S. application Ser. No.
08/806,938, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,725,376 filed on Feb. 26, 1997 and
issued on Mar. 10, 1998, and claiming the benefit of U.S.
Provisional Patent Application No. 60/012,325 filed on Feb. 27,
1996.
Claims
The invention claimed is:
1. A method of manufacturing a dental implant drill guide,
comprising the steps of: a) imaging a jawbone with a reference to a
frame of reference to produce a three-dimensional computer graphics
model; b) selecting at least one implant drill hole position for at
least one dental implant using said model, said position being
specified in three dimensions, including a hole termination point
and orientation, and being referenced to said frame of reference,
c) entering at least one set of implant drill hole position
coordinates into a computer controlled precision manufacturing
device; and d) using said precision manufacturing device to provide
a drill template body having a fixed orientation drill guide socket
for each one of said at least one drill hole position entered in
step c) with a corresponding position and orientation.
2. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising imaging a
tissue structure covering said jawbone and a dental prosthesis and
including an image of said dental prosthesis in said model such
that a position of said prosthesis with respect to said jawbone can
be seen, whereby said at least one implant drill hole position can
be selected taking into account a position of said dental
prosthesis with respect to said jawbone and tissue structure.
3. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said drill guide
socket receives drill guide tubes having a variable internal
diameter.
4. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said step d) comprises
forming said implant drill holes into the drill template body
supported on a physical model, and forming abutment surfaces on
said template body on the basis of said implant drill hole position
coordinates.
5. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said frame of
reference includes an anatomical reference, and wherein said step
a) comprises preparing a scanner reference guide and carrying out
radiographic imaging of said jawbone with said scanner reference
guide secured with respect to said anatomical reference, and
converting said radiographic imaging into data to produce acid
three-dimensional computer graphics model.
6. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein step b) comprises
selecting at least two implant drill hole positions for at least
two dental implants using said model, step c) comprises entering at
least two sets of implant drill hole position coordinates, and step
d) comprises using said precision manufacturing device to provide a
fixed orientation drill guide socket in said template body for each
one of said at least two drill hole positions.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a method of manufacturing a dental
implant drill guide. The invention also relates to a method for the
reconstruction of an edentulous jawbone.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
It is known in the art to secure dental prostheses using dental
implants secured in the upper or lower jawbone. It is also known in
the art to mount a framework or superstructure to a number of
implants, the superstructure being used to evenly support a set of
false teeth or denture prostheses. Accurate placement within the
jawbone of the implants is a difficult task. In International
Patent Application No. PCT/IT94/00059, published 24 Nov. 1994 as WO
94/26200, there is described an adjustable guiding device for
positioning dental implants in which it is possible for the dental
surgeon to adjust a drill axis for each implant before proceeding
to use the guiding device or drill template to guide the surgeon's
drill for the purposes of preparing the drill hole for the implant.
The guiding device disclosed in the International publication helps
the dental surgeon to decide on the drill axis after viewing
radiographic images of the radio-opaque tubular drill guide
superposed the bone structure.
In the known prior art, the oral surgeon typically has difficulty
deciding on a drill axis for the implants since the ideal position
for the implants should be decided with knowledge of the jawbone
structure into which the implant is to be inserted, knowledge of
the position within the jawbone structure of the nerve tissue, the
gum surface and the required position and dimensions of the false
teeth or dentures to be supported by the dental implant. Of course,
in the conventional manner of selecting the implant axis, the
dentist or dental surgeon simply makes a best guess in light of his
knowledge of the patient. Of course, this leads, in certain cases,
to imperfections in the dental prosthesis. The imperfections may be
lack of ideal support, unfavorable angulation of an implant causing
a weakness in the implant which may cause failure over time, or a
visually perceptible defect in the appearance of the
prosthesis.
In the conventional method for the construction of the
superstructure, a physical model of the patient's gums and dental
implant heads is prepared on which the superstructure is built
manually using molding and other techniques known in the art. The
craftsman or technician skilled at manufacturing such dental
superstructures takes into consideration the size and shape of the
desired dentures to be placed over the superstructure when crafting
the same. The procedure for manufacturing dental implant
superstructures as is conventionally known in the art is
time-consuming and sometimes results in imperfect structures or
defects in the visual appearance of the dentures to be placed over
the superstructure.
In U.S. Pat. No. 5,401,170 granted Mar. 28, 1995 to Nonomura, there
is disclosed a method and apparatus for measuring by camera image
the implant heads of the implants in the patient's mouth for the
purposes of cutting a frame on which the prosthetic teeth will be
arranged and baked. In the method disclosed, the construction of
the frame or superstructure is carried out in the absence of a
reference to the shape and position of the patient's ideal teeth
position. Thus, as the dentures or artificial teeth are crafted on
the frame or superstructure, care would be required during the
manual process to ensure that the position of the teeth on the
frame will match the opposed set of teeth in the patient's
mouth.
Known techniques also have the disadvantage of necessitating two
separate sessions to install the implants and the superstructure.
It would be highly beneficial to be able to prepare the
superstructure prior to the surgery so that the implants and the
superstructure are installed during the same surgical
procedure.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
It is a first object of the present invention to provide a method
of manufacturing a dental implant drill guide or drill template
which will result in a precise and accurate drill guide for
selected drill holes.
It is furthermore an object of the present invention to provide a
method of manufacturing a dental implant superstructure in which
information concerning the position of a plurality of dental
implants mounted in a jawbone, the gum surface covering the jawbone
and the fixed denture shape is all taken into consideration during
the specification of the shape of the superstructure before the
superstructure is precision made.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide such
methods which provide better accuracy and faster results than
conventional methods.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a
dental implant drill guide which is precise and easy to use such
that drilling of the dental implant holes does not require expert
skill and knowledge beyond the skill of basic dental surgery. It is
furthermore an object of the present invention to provide tools
which will reduce the number of visits a patient needs to make to
the dental surgeon in order to have dental implants and a dental
implant superstructure inserted.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a
method of manufacturing a dental implant drill guide, comprising
the steps of: imaging a jawbone and tissue structure with a
reference to a known anatomical reference to produce a
three-dimensional computer graphics model; selecting at least one
implant drill hole position for at least one dental implant using
said model, said position being specified in three dimensions,
including a hole termination point and orientation, and being
referenced to said anatomical reference, entering at least one set
of implant drill hole position coordinates into a computer
controlled precision manufacturing device; providing a drill
template body having a first surface adapted to overlie a gum
surface of the jawbone in a single predetermined position; using
said precision manufacturing device to provide a fixed orientation
drill guide socket in said template body for each one of said at
least one drill hole position with a corresponding position and
orientation.
According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is
provided a method for allowing the reconstruction of an edentulous
jawbone in a single surgical operation, comprising the steps of: a)
creating a three-dimensional graphic computer model of a patient's
gum, jawbone and tissue structure, and of a dental prosthesis to be
placed over the gum; b) selecting a number of virtual implant drill
holes positions for corresponding implants using said model; c)
entering data related to the virtual implant drill hole positions
into a computer controlled precision manufacturing device; d)
providing a rigid drill template body; e) using said precision
manufacturing device to provide a fixed orientation socket in said
drill template body for each one of said implant drill hole
positions selected in step b); f) prior to the surgical operation,
using said data on said virtual implant drill hole positions and
said precision manufacturing device to make a dental implant
superstructure having a number of dental implant abutting flanges
interconnected by a bridge in a fixed configuration in which said
dental abutting flanges are positioned in accordance with the
virtual implant drill hole positions; g) using said drill guide to
drill pilot holes in the patient's jawbone at said virtual implant
drill hole positions; h) inserting an implant in each of said pilot
holes; and i) installing the dental implant superstructure
prefabricated in step f) on the implants inserted in the patient's
jawbone.
In the method of manufacturing a dental implant drill guide
according to the present invention, the patient is typically
edentured, namely, the patient has had all teeth pulled from the
jawbone, and the jawbone has been given time to heal since the
teeth were pulled. If the patient decides to proceed with dental
implants and the placement of a superstructure for solidly securing
dentures over the gum, a period of about 1 month is provided for
from the time of pulling any remaining teeth from the jawbone
before proceeding with the operation of inserting implants into the
jawbone.
A medical image of the jawbone and tissue structure is obtained by
using x-ray imaging, MRI or possibly nuclear imaging techniques to
produce a three-dimensional computer graphics model which has a
reference to the gum surface or some other fixed reference with
respect to the patient's jawbone. Preferably, a radiographic
scanner guide is used which is molded to conform to the shape of
the patient's gums and which includes radio-opaque spheres whose
positions with respect to the gum surface is known.
The primary advantage of the invention is that the oral surgeon may
select the optimum position for dental implants using the
three-dimensional computer graphics model of the jawbone and tissue
structure. Selection of the drill hole positions using the computer
graphics model is transferred to a CNC device for the purposes of
providing fixed drill guide sockets in the template body for each
one of the drill hole positions or position selected using the
computer graphics model. While the model is three-dimensional, it
may be convenient for the purposes of selecting the drill hole axis
to use a two-dimensional representation of the jawbone and tissue
structure, the two-dimensional view being displayed with a user
controlled slice angle. Preferably, the dental surgeon will select
the position for each implant drill hole, not only to position the
implant in the optimum location within the jawbone, but also to
result in a position of support which is suitable for supporting
the dentures. Therefore, it is preferred to display, in addition to
the three-dimensional computer graphics model of the jawbone and
tissue structure, the patient's dentures in the proper spatial
relationship with respect to the jawbone and tissue structure. This
requires imaging the patient's dentures or teeth, and possibly gum
structure, in addition to the jawbone and tissue structure, in such
a way that all images are referenced with respect to one another to
be integrated into the same three-dimensional computer graphics
model.
While it would be possible to prepare the drill template body and
provide it with the drill guide sockets using the CNC device, the
drill template body is preferably molded on a physical model of the
gum surface into which model the CNC device has previously drilled
the desired implant drill holes. The drill holes in the physical
model are used to build a mold for the drill guide sockets. This
prevents the need to use the CNC device to produce fine details
except for the precision drilling of the drill holes.
Imaging of the dentures or teeth to be placed over the gum surface
and the imaging of the gum surface can be carried out by using
laser camera imaging techniques known in the art. These images are
preferably obtained using a physical model of the patient's gum
surface, and the physical model is imaged in such a way that the
images can be referenced accurately to the jawbone and tissue
structure images.
According to one method of manufacturing the dental implant
superstructure, the actual dental implant position data is obtained
by taking an imprint using transfers connected to the implants.
Preferably, the imprint is taken using the same drill guide with
the sockets of the drill guide being large enough to receive the
transfers and surrounding imprint material. Preferably, the
positions and orientations of the transfers are physically measured
along with a reference to the drill guide which will permit the
relative positions of the implants to be known with a reference to
a standard frame of reference. Using the standard frame of
reference, it is possible to generate a computer graphics model of
the gum surface, dentures or teeth and dental implants which allows
the dental surgeon or technician to select the best shape for the
overlying bridge of the superstructure.
According to a further general aspect of the present invention, the
implant drill hole positions selected using the computer graphics
model can also be used to make the superstructure. By so using the
planned implant positions, instead of taking an imprint of the
implants inserted in the patient's jawbone to precisely determine
their actual locations in relation to the jawbone, the
superstructure can be made prior to the surgical operation, i.e.
prior to the insertion of the implants into the patient's jawbone.
This advantageously provides for the installation of the implants
and the superstructure in a single surgical operation. This novel
approach of creating a superstructure on the basis of the virtual
positions of the dental implants selected using the
three-dimensional computer graphic model of the jawbone and the
dental prosthesis has the following advantages for the surgeon: no
need for taking imprints of the implants to determine their
positions in the jawbone; no need for a second surgical procedure
to expose the head of the implants; improved stability of the
implants, as they are immediately interconnected to each other by
the superstructure; improved protection of the implants, since they
are better stabilized; less sessions with a patient, thus, higher
profitability;
and the following advantages for the patient: only one operation
and, thus, less traumatism; accelerated healing because of the
protection afforded by the superstructure;
In the case of a fixed dental prosthesis which is implant mounted
(i.e. porcelain on metal), the ideal form of the superstructure can
be automatically designed using the computer model taking into
consideration the form of the laser camera imaged teeth and by
subtracting a thickness of porcelain which the technician requires
to recreate the shape of the imaged teeth. In the case of a dental
prosthesis supported by a superstructure (overdenture), the shape
of the superstructure can be automatically determined by taking
into account the external shape of the prosthesis and by
circulating the superstructure inside the prosthesis, making sure
that the necessary thickness of prosthesis material (e.g. acrylic)
will be available all around in order to provide a adequately
strong prosthesis.
When precision forming the superstructure, it is possible to use
various techniques. In one embodiment, the entire superstructure is
cut using a CNC milling machine programmed to cut according to the
shape data specified using the computer model.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Other objects and features of the present invention will be better
understood by way of the following detailed description of the
preferred embodiment with reference to the appended drawings in
which:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an articulator supporting a
physical model of a patient's upper and lower gums with dentures in
place;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 1 in which the
dentures have been replaced by a radiographic scanning guide;
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the radiographic scanning
guide;
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a three-dimensional computer model
of a patient's lower jawbone shown partly broken away with the
radio-opaque reference spheres and reference coordinate
superimposed;
FIG. 5 is a flow diagram of the method of manufacturing the dental
implant drill guide according to the preferred embodiment;
FIG. 6 is a panoramic view of a lower jawbone of a patient with the
gum line and dentures superimposed;
FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view about line 7 of FIG. 6;
FIG. 8 is a block diagram of the CNC drill device and data entry
terminal;
FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a five axis CNC drill device;
FIG. 10 is a front view of a physical model with four drill axes
shown;
FIG. 11 is a view similar to FIG. 10 in which a drill guide has
been molded with the fixed drill sockets formed by pins inserted in
the drill holes;
FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the drill guide according to the
preferred embodiment;
FIG. 13 is a sectional view of the drill guide being used to drill
a patient's jawbone;
FIG. 14 is an enlarged sectional view of a jawbone having received
an implant with the drill guide placed on top of the gum surface to
act as an impression tray for the purposes of taking an exact
imprint of the implant position using a transfer;
FIG. 15 is a sectional view of a computer model illustrating the
denture fit over the patient's gums with the implant head in
correct relative position;
FIG. 16 illustrates a similar computer graphics image as in FIG. 15
for a position between two implants;
FIG. 17 illustrates a perspective view of lower dentures and a
lower perstructure; and
FIG. 18 is a view from underneath the assembled components
illustrated in FIG. 17.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
As illustrated in FIG. 1, an articulator 20 as is known in the art
is set up to support a lower physical model 21 and an upper
physical model 22 of a patient's mouth with lower and upper
dentures 23 and 24 supported by the physical model with the teeth
of the dentures in proper alignment. The articulator is adjusted
using the adjustment means 25 and 26 as is known in the art. As
illustrated in FIG. 2, the dentures 23 and 24 are removed and a
scanner guide 27 is made by hand to fit exactly the space occupied
by the upper and lower denture. Radio-opaque reference spheres 28
having a known diameter are bonded to the guide 27 with one sphere
on each side at the rear and one in the front. In the illustration
in the preferred embodiment, the spheres are shown near the lower
jaw surface since it is the lower jaw that is to be imaged. The
spheres could likewise be placed near the upper jaw surface as the
case may be. The separated scanner guide body 27 is illustrated in
FIG. 3.
The particular advantage of the scanner guide 27 according to the
present invention is that during radiographic scanning of the
patient's jaw, the patient may comfortably hold the scanner guide
27 in place by closing down on the same. As can be appreciated, the
lower jaw could move during imaging and must be secured by means
such as the scanner guide 27. The patient's head is held in place
during radiographic scanning using a suitable brace as is known in
the art.
As shown in FIG. 4, the result of the radiographic scanning is to
obtain a three-dimensional computer graphics model 29 of the
patient's lower jaw. Images of the reference spheres 28 appear as
33 and provide a reference to a coordinate axes 32. The dental
surgeon is capable of viewing with the model 29 the nerve 37 which
extends from the base of the jaw until it exits the jawbone at each
side of the chin. A drill axis 31 for each proposed drill hole 34
is selected on the computer model. The end point of the drill hole
36 is also selected.
For ease of selection of the drill axis 31, namely the position in
space of the end point and the angular orientation of the drill
axis 31, it may be possible to present slices of the computer model
29 to the dental surgeon or technician which would make it easier
to select the parameters. As can be appreciated, two angles are
required to specify the orientation of the drill axis 31, for
example, a first angle .theta. may define an angle of the drill
axis 31 with respect to the x-z plane and a second angular
parameter .phi. may define the angle between the drill axis 31 in
the z-y plane.
In the preferred embodiment, selection of the drill axes 31 for the
drill holes 34 is done with knowledge of the relative position of
the gum surface and the relative position of the dentures or teeth.
As illustrated in FIG. 5, the 3-D computer model 29 is built up
using the radiographic 3-D imaging data as well as referenced gum
surface image data and referenced denture image data. In FIG. 6,
there is shown a panoramic slice view of the 3-D model 29 showing
the gum surface 44 and dentures 43 superposed the cortical bone
structure 41 and the marrow 42.
As illustrated in FIG. 7, in the preferred embodiment, it is
possible to view for a selected drill axis 31 the resulting implant
position 49 and how this relates to the bone structure 41 and 42,
the nerve 37, if present, as well as the lower and upper denture
structure 44 and 43. As can be appreciated, if the desired angle
and position of the dentures with respect to the gum surface 46
would require an adjustment of the position and angle of the
implant 49, the dental surgeon is able to select the optimum depth,
position and angular orientation for the implant 49 relying
entirely on the computer model. Once the hole termination position
and angular orientation data for each of the drill holes is
selected using the computer model, the data is entered through a
data entry device 51 to control a CNC drill 52 in accordance with
FIG. 8 and as better illustrated in FIG. 9.
The CNC drill 52 has a drill bit 53 which is capable of moving and
drilling along a first vertical direction 54. The physical model 21
is mounted in such a way that it is able to turn about two
directions 55 and 56 on a platform which is able to move in
directions 57 and 60. The CNC drill 52 is capable of moving about
five axes. In order for the CNC drill device to be properly
referenced with respect to the physical model 21, the scanner guide
may be placed on top of the physical model 21 and a coordinates
measuring machine (CMM) connected to CNC drill 52 is used to
accurately locate the position of each one of the position
reference spheres and reference these to the CNC drill's reference
frame. The CNC drill 52 is then programmed to convert the hole
position and orientation data as referenced to the frame of
reference of the computer model to the reference frame of the CNC
drill so that the drill holes may be prepared in the physical model
21.
As illustrated in FIG. 10, four drill holes 58 are cut into the
physical model 21 which is mounted on a base 59. The drill hole
axes 31 as shown are in different positions and orientations.
As shown in FIG. 11, rods 62 are inserted into the holes 58. The
socket forming mold parts 63 are placed over the rods 62 and a
surrounding mold structure (not shown) is placed around the
physical model 21 to allow for the molded guide body 61 to be
formed. Since the holes 58 are of different heights, the socket
forming mold parts 63 are adjusted in size such that the distance
between the circular flange edge and the end of the rods 102 is a
constant. In this way, the circular flange edge 64 of the drill
guide sockets is at a fixed distance with respect to the desired
end point of the drill hole.
As shown in FIG. 12, the finished molded drill guide body 61 has a
plurality of drill guide tubes 66 inserted into the drill guide
sockets 68, and three holes 67 are additionally provided for
transitionally securing the drill guide 61 to the patient's jawbone
during surgery. The drill guide tubes 66 may be removed and
reinserted into the drill guide sockets 68 in order to change the
internal diameter of the drill guide tubes as is required during
surgery since the implant drill hole is started with a very small
diameter drill bit and subsequently larger drill bits are used
until the full size implant drill hole is obtained. As shown in
FIG. 13, the drill used in surgery is provided with a collar 69 for
abutting against the upper surface of the guide tube 66 in such a
way that the distance between the bottom of the collar 69 and the
end of the drill bit 71 is fixed as required. In the preferred
embodiment, the collar 69 is integral with the drill bit 71.
As can be appreciated, the oral surgeon prepares the implant holes
using the drill guide 61 by removing circular portions of the gum
(gingival taps) at the implant sites. In the conventional method of
drilling implant holes, a procedure known as "flap surgery" is
carried out in which a piece of the gum covering the jawbone where
the implant hole is to be drilled is cut and peeled back so that
the oral surgeon has clear access to the jawbone surface. Using the
present invention, the surgeon has the option of doing flap surgery
if required or circumferential surgery as needed. Of course, if a
conventional flap surgery is to be done, a modification of the
surgical guide should be done, i.e. the guide should be removable
as needed for flap surgery. In order to put the guide back at the
same location, the use of transitional implants is needed to seat
the guide after the flap is done. If the circular approach is
chosen, there is no need to remove the guide during surgery, and by
avoiding flap surgery, post operation healing time should be
reduced.
As illustrated in FIG. 14, the oral surgeon screws in an implant 72
into the hole made using drill guide 61. This can be done with the
drill guide 61 remaining in place, the implants being inserted
through the sockets 68. The upper surface of the implant 72 is
approximately flush with the upper surface of the cortical exterior
41 of the jawbone. The implant 72 has a hollow threaded core. Since
the implant 72 has been inserted into the jawbone tissue 42 by
hand, its exact position may not be perfectly defined by the drill
hole formed using the drill guide 61. It has been found that this
problem can be overcome by leaving the drill guide 61 in place
during the implant insertion and by rigidly connecting each implant
72 to the guide 61 once fully inserted in the patient's jawbone.
The screwdriver (not shown) used by the surgeon to screw the
implants 72 into the implant holes is provided with a collar for
abutting against a corresponding abutting surface (not shown) at
the entry of each socket 68 in such a way that the distance between
the abutting surface and the bottom of the socket 68 be precisely
fixed as required. In this way, the surgeon will insert a first
implant 72 in one of the sockets 68 located at a first end of the
drill guide 61 and screw the implant 72 into the corresponding
drill hole until the abutment on the screwdriver contacts the
abutment at the entry of the socket 68. Once fully inserted, the
implant 72 is securely fixed to the drill guide 61 by means of an
anchoring screw tightened into the implant 72. Then, a second
implant 72 is inserted into another socket 68 located at a second
end of the drill guide 61 opposite the first end thereof and is
screwed into the corresponding drill hole in the same manner as for
the first implant 72. A second anchoring screw is then screwed into
the second implant 72 to rigidly connect the same to the drill
guide 61. The other implants are subsequently installed following
the same procedure. Once all the implants 72 have been inserted,
the relative position of each implant 72 with respect to its
neighbors should not have changed as long as the drill guide 61 was
not subject to any deformations during the installation of the
implants 72. Indeed, it is important that the drill guide 61 be
capable of sustaining elevated torsion forces in order to ensure
that the actual position of the implants 72 precisely corresponds
to that selected on the computer model. For instance, the drill
guide 61 could be made from a rigid metallic structure or from any
other structural material offering a high level of rigidity.
By so using a rigid drill guide in the installation of the
implants, it becomes possible to precisely insert the implants in
the patient's jawbone at the positions selected on the computer
model. This advantageously obviates the need for taking an imprint
of the implants to determine their actual positions in view of the
fabrication of the superstructure to be attached to the
implants.
Due to this new level of precision in the positioning of the
implants, the superstructure can be fabricated prior to the surgery
using the implant positions selected on the 3-D computer model of
the patient's jawbone, gum and dental prosthesis.
As shown in FIG. 16, the implant head 49 will receive a
superstructure consisting of an abutment foot 47 extending down to
the top of the implant and having an upper bridge-like structure 48
extending inside the lower portion 44 of the denture structure and
even possibly into the upper portion 43 of the denture structure.
In between two implants, as illustrated in FIG. 17, the bridge
structure 48 is designed to be located above the gum surface 46 and
within the denture structure. As can be appreciated, due to the
confines and configuration of the patient's mouth, it may be
necessary to shape the bridge structure 48 such that it passes
close to either an inner or outer side wall of the denture
structure 43, 44. In this way, the denture technician is capable of
viewing in the computer model how the bridge structure and
superstructure is best constructed.
Once the denture technician has selected the shape for the dental
implant superstructure and the position of the implants using the
computer model, the shape data is passed on together with the data
on the selected implant positions to a precision forming device for
shaping the superstructure. In the preferred embodiment, a CNC
milling machine similar to the CNC drill device illustrated in FIG.
9 is used. The result is a superstructure, as illustrated in FIG.
17, that can be fastened directly to the dental implants in a
one-stage surgical procedure. That is to say, the implants and the
pre-manufactured superstructure can be installed during the same
surgical procedure. Since the abutment feet 47 of the
superstructure and the sockets 68 in the drill guide 61 are
machined using the same virtual implant position data and since the
implants 72 are prevented from moving in the patient's jawbone by
the drill guide 61, the abutment feet 47 will fit perfectly on the
implants 72 screwed into the patient's jawbone, thereby allowing
the superstructure to be prepared before the implants 72 are
actually inserted into the patient's jawbone
The superstructure illustrated in FIG. 17 is of the type which
receives dentures by snap-fit. The superstructure is prepared from
a solid piece of commercially pure titanium or any biocompatible
material such as porcelain, preventing corrosion between implants
and superstructure.
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